THE National Library of Nigeria has organised a National Readership Promotion Campaign, which was launched in Jalingo, Taraba, in a move to promote reading culture among Nigerians.
A statement made available by the Public Relations Unit, National Library Abuja, on Wednesday said the theme of the campaign was “Working Together to Build a Virile Reading Nation: Challenges and Strategies.”
It quoted the Prof Lenrie Aina, the National Libarian, as saying that the campaign was designed to cover all the 23 state branches of the national library and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Aina, who was represented by Mr Henry Maginson, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, National Library, lamented over the poor reading culture among Nigerians.
“The reading culture among Nigerians is very poor and the benefits of good reading culture in any country cannot be over-emphasised, given the fact that it enriches the knowledge to ensure full participation in modern society.
”Reading adds quality to life, provides access to culture and cultural heritage, empowers and emancipates citizens as well as brings citizens together,” he said.
Aina said that reading was one of the fundamental building blocks of learning, adding that reading was not only for school purposes but a life-long thing.
He noted the objectives of the readership campaign was to encourage reading among Nigerians, promote the increase of reading materials and identify obstacles that inhibits reading and ways to eliminate them.
Gov Darius Ishaku of Taraba, in his remarks, commended the management of the National Library on the reading campaign, saying it will help develop the people of Taraba and the nation at large.
Ishaku, represented by Mr Johanes Jigem, Commissioner for Education in the state, said that any government that wanted to develop the state would have to start from the education sector.
He said that investing in education would develop the people economically, politically and socially.
The governor decried the poor performance of students in WAEC, NECO and JAMB attributing it to the poor reading habit of students.
Ishaku pledged support to the National Library of Nigeria in the development of the education sector in the state.
Activities during the event included: a paper presentation by Dr Jerome Nyameh from the Faculty of Science, Taraba State University, school debate and reading competition.
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